Factory Records was a Manchester-based British independent record label founded in 1978 by Tony Wilson and Alan Erasmus. The label collapsed in 1992 and was bought by London Records.
The Durutti Column are an English post-punk band formed in 1978 in Manchester, England. The band is a project of guitarist and occasional pianist Vini Reilly who is often accompanied by Bruce Mitchell on drums and Keir Stewart on bass, keyboards and harmonica. They were among the first acts signed to Factory Records by label founder Tony Wilson.
James Martin Hannett, initially credited as Martin Zero, was an English record producer and an original partner/director at Tony Wilson's Factory Records. Hannett produced albums by a range of artists, including Joy Division, the Durutti Column, Magazine, John Cooper Clarke, New Order, Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark, and Happy Mondays. His distinctive production style utilized unorthodox sound recording and technology, and has been described as sparse, spatial, and cavernous.
Penetration is a punk rock band from County Durham, England formed in 1976. They re-formed in 2001 with several new members. Their debut single, "Don't Dictate", is now acknowledged as a classic punk rock single and their debut album, Moving Targets (1978), is still widely admired.
John Cooper Clarke is an English performance poet, who first became famous as a "punk poet" in the late 1970s. In the late 1970s and early 1980s he released several albums. Around this time he performed on stage with several punk and post-punk bands, and continues to perform regularly.
Disguise in Love is the second studio album by John Cooper Clarke, first released in 1978.. Most of the tracks are spoken over musical accompaniment provided by Clarke's band The Invisible Girls, except "Psycle Sluts 1&2" and "Salome Maloney" — both live recordings from the Ritz Ballroom in Manchester on 8 May 1978, delivered in his trademark a cappella style.
Paul Burgess is an English rock drummer, notable for his association with a wide range of British rock and folk-rock bands. In addition to extensive session work, he has been an official member of 10cc, Jethro Tull, Camel, Magna Carta, and The Icicle Works.
Snap, Crackle & Bop is the fourth album by John Cooper Clarke, originally released in 1980. As with Disguise in Love, the album featured The Invisible Girls as the backing band and was produced by Martin Hannett. Original first pressings of the LP included a booklet with the lyrics from John Cooper Clarke's 1978 album Disguise in Love together with photographs and artwork, the booklet was housed in a pocket that formed part of the jacket on the LP cover photograph. The album placed at No. 39 in NME's 1980 Albums Of The Year.
Zip Style Method is the sixth album by John Cooper Clarke, originally released in 1982. He is again backed by The Invisible Girls, a band masterminded by producer Martin Hannett who contributes bass and guitar to the songs.
Pauline Murray is best known as the lead singer of the punk rock band Penetration, originally formed in 1976.
Stephen Garvey is a musician who is known for being the bass guitarist of the punk band Buzzcocks, forming part of the classic line-up of the group, from 1977 to 1981, and, again, from 1989 to 1992.
John Maher is a British musician who was part of the punk and new wave scenes in Manchester, England, most notably as the drummer with Buzzcocks.
Dave Rowbotham was an English rock musician who played guitar and bass with various Manchester bands in the 1970s and the 1980s, and as a studio musician.
Motivation was a short-lived band formed in Manchester, England by bassist and probably leader Steve Garvey, guitarist Dave Rowbotham, drummer Snuff and vocalist Dave Price. Garvey was a former Buzzcocks, Teardrops and Bok Bok member, while Rowbotham was previously in The Durutti Column and then in The Mothmen.
"Searching for Heaven" is the third and final single from Pauline Murray and The Invisible Girls, released in April 1981 on Illusive Records. It was produced by Martin Hannett.
Stephen Hopkins is a British former musician who worked with different Manchester punk and new wave artists including John Cooper Clarke, Pauline Murray, Morrissey and Ed Garrity amongst others. After retiring as a musician, he pursued a career in experimental cold atom physics.
Robert Blamire is known primarily as bassist for the punk and new wave band Penetration.
Pauline Murray and the Invisible Girls is the only album made by Penetration singer Pauline Murray and the Invisible Girls, John Cooper Clarke's backing band. It was released in September 1980 on the RSO label.
"Does It Matter Irene?" is the first disc released by post-punk group The Mothmen, on Absurd Records, in 1979. Shortly before, the band members were involved with two known Manchester bands, guitarist/bassist Dave Rowbotham, bassist/guitarist Tony Bowers and drummer Chris Joyce with The Durutti Column and vocalist Bob Harding with Alberto Y Lost Trios Paranoias. Bowers also was member of Alberto Y Lost Trios Paranoias before The Durutti Column.
Toby Toman, is a drummer who played with various British bands including The Nosebleeds, Ludus, The Durutti Column, Blue Orchids, and Primal Scream, working often with German singer Nico, known for her role with The Velvet Underground, while she was living in Manchester, England through the 1980s.
